Russia and Japan to Finally End World War II?

Shinzo Abe became the first Japanese Prime Minister to travel to Moscow in ten years when he met with Russian PM, bare-chested horseback rider, jet pilot, judo master and hunter-gatherer Vladimir Putin on Monday. One of the main topics of discussion has been the possibility of a treaty to formally end World War II, as the two countries are still technically at war over – you guessed it – islands.

This particular island dispute is over the Etorofu, Kunashiri and Shikotan Islands, as well as the Habomai islet group, all of which were seized by the Soviet Empire at the end of the second world war, and are known as the Kuril Islands in Russia. During Monday’s talks both leaders shrewdly observed that the current state of war between the two nations is “abnormal” and agreed to increase government contact.